Chapter 102: Polar Flames

Outside the Obsidian Waterfall Realm, the leaders who had brought their juniors to the Obsidian Gate stood in clusters, their voices low but filled with tension. Each opening of the realm was a double-edged sword—while it promised unparalleled opportunities, it was also a crucible of death. The juniors inside faced not only the treacherous terrain and the demonic beasts that roamed the land but also each other. Alliances would be forged and broken, and blood would inevitably be spilled.

Yet, one fact remained undeniable: the realm was a treasure trove of spiritual energy and resources. History had proven this time and again. The last opening, a thousand years ago, had seen Mist Ridge City and Thunderclap City form an alliance that left the other cities scrambling. They had dominated the realm, seizing the lion's share of treasures and resources. This time, no one knew where the juniors would be sent or how they would fare. All the leaders could do was wait and hope their chosen ones would return alive.

---

Zhen Chen, his brow furrowed with concern, approached Lin Moyi. The two elders stood apart from the others, their gazes fixed on the shimmering Obsidian Gate with its oppressive aura and endless falling black mist. "Old friend," Zhen Chen began, his voice tinged with worry, "do you think that kid is faring well inside?"

Lin Moyi's expression was calm, but his eyes held a flicker of something darker. "I fear for the others inside, not him. The rest are strong, yes, and they'll find opportunities to boost their strength. But that kid... he's a monster. He doesn't settle. Those who cross his path the wrong way may never return." He paused, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "That's why I'm prepared to stand against everyone—even Northern Moon—when he comes out. Reverse cultivation will leave a trail of blood, and I won't let anyone touch him."

Zhen Chen nodded slowly, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "You're right. It's astonishing that a junior, barely twenty years old, is giving us two old men so much to worry about. Still, I can't help but look forward to his progress—if any."

Lin Moyi's gaze shifted to the group from Thunderclap City, his eyes burning with intensity. "Oh, there will be progress, alright."

---

On the other side of the gathering, two elders from Thunderclap City and Mist Ridge City stood close together, their voices hushed but their expressions eager. Elder Gao Yundian of Thunderclap City and Elder Lie Huoyan of Mist Ridge City were no strangers to collaboration. Their cities had formed an alliance during the last opening, and it seemed history was repeating itself.

"Zhan Huitao has the potential to reach the Golden Core Realm if he's lucky enough to find the right opportunity," Lie Huoyan said, a proud smile on his face. He had trained Zhan Huitao since the boy was a child, and his confidence in his protégé was unshakable. "With his strength, he'll be a force on the battlefield, especially alongside your son, Gao Zhenlei."

Gao Yundian nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Gao Zhenlei is a good kid. I've taught him everything I know. With Zhan Huitao by his side, they'll be unstoppable."

The two elders exchanged knowing glances, their alliance as solid as ever. But their confidence did little to ease the unease of the other leaders, who watched them with thinly veiled disdain.

---

Meanwhile, deep within the realm, Jiang Feng and Ji Moran had spent two days traversing a rugged, hilly terrain. The landscape was a patchwork of rolling hills covered in dense, emerald-green vegetation. Towering trees with gnarled roots stretched toward the sky, their canopies filtering the sunlight into a dappled glow. The air was thick with the scent of earth and wildflowers, and the occasional cry of a distant beast echoed through the valleys. It was a place of both beauty and danger, where every step could lead to opportunity or peril.

After three hours of navigating the hills, they arrived at a cliff face that seemed to mark the edge of the world. From a distance, it appeared impassable—a sheer drop into oblivion. But Ji Moran stepped forward, pulling a small disc from her spatial ring. With a wave of her hand, the disc glowed faintly, and the cliff face began to ripple like water. "This is the illusionary formation I set up," she explained, her voice tinged with pride. "It wasn't cheap to create, but it's worth it."

Jiang Feng raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Is this a creation of the Zhen Clan?" he asked, referring to the renowned masters of formation arts and talisman making.

Ji Moran nodded. "Correct. They have a store that sells formations and talismans. While they practice martial cultivation like everyone else, their true expertise lies in formations and talismans."

As they approached the rippling illusion, a sudden cacophony of noise erupted from the other side. Ji Moran's expression darkened, and she turned to Jiang Feng with a worried look. His eyes, however, were cold and calculating. This was exactly what he had feared would happen. If the formation could be bought, others could acquire detection tools to see through it.

"Let's go in," Jiang Feng said, his voice steady. He took a deep breath and stepped through the rippling illusion, Ji Moran close behind. The noise grew louder, and the tension in the air was palpable.

As Jiang Feng and Ji Moran stepped through the rippling illusion, the scene that unfolded before them was nothing short of breathtaking—and utterly surreal. The space inside was vast, a hidden world that defied all expectations. Two enormous hills dominated the landscape, their crowns touching in a bizarre, almost unnatural embrace. The hills were colossal, their slopes covered in lush vegetation that shimmered under the ethereal light filtering through the realm. The sight of their peaks merging was both awe-inspiring and unsettling, as if nature itself had bent to some unseen will.

Between the two hills stood a formation that seemed to pulse with life. Crafted from multi-colored lights that shimmered and danced in an endless cycle, the formation was a masterpiece of artistry and power. Its surface was lined with intricate, colorful patterns that shifted and flowed like liquid, giving it an otherworldly beauty. The formation appeared to be intrinsically connected to the hills, its energy flowing from their crowns down to the ground below, as if the hills themselves were feeding it.

Beyond the formation lay a massive lake, its waters so crystal clear that they reflected the sky like a mirror. But as Jiang Feng's gaze traveled further, he noticed something extraordinary—the lake was divided into two distinct halves. One side was heated, its waters bubbling and steaming, sending plumes of vapor into the air. The steam twisted and crackled, distorting the space above it as if it were alive. The other side was the polar opposite—a frozen expanse of biting cold. The water here was calm but deadly, its surface so frigid that snowflakes seemed to materialize and vanish in the air above it, as if the lake itself were exhaling winter.

The contrast between the two halves was mesmerizing, a perfect balance of fire and ice, heat and cold. It was as if the lake embodied the duality of existence, a match made in heaven—or perhaps in the depths of some ancient, primordial power. But Jiang Feng knew better than to be lulled by its beauty. This place was as dangerous as it was enchanting.

In the dead center of the lake, rising from its depths, were two stone platforms. Each platform held a flickering flame, their light casting an eerie glow across the water. One flame burned a bright, searing yellow, as if it had captured the essence of the sun itself. The other was a cold, ethereal blue, radiating the chill of the moon. The flames pulsed in rhythm, their movements almost hypnotic, and Jiang Feng could feel the immense power they contained even from this distance.

"This is going to get ugly," Jiang Feng muttered, his voice low but filled with resolve.

Ji Moran's eyes scanned the area, her expression grim. "I see members from all six cities," she said, her voice tense. "Even the Zhen Clan is here, working hard to break through the formation."

Jiang Feng followed her gaze and saw dozens of cultivators scattered around the multi-colored formation. They were using various tools and techniques to analyze and dismantle it—some scanning its surface with intricate devices, others attempting to drill through it with brute force. But so far, nothing had worked. The formation held firm, its defenses impenetrable. This, at least, was a small mercy. It meant the flames were still out of reach—for now.

"When the time comes," Jiang Feng said, his voice cold and steady, "we'll warn those from Northern Moon to back off. If they don't listen, they'll have no one to blame but themselves for what happens next. But for now, we focus on breaking the formation. Prepare for demonic beast attacks—and for the others to turn on us the moment we make a move."

Ji Moran nodded, her grip tightening on her sword. She understood the stakes. The two flames were no ordinary treasures—they were manifestations of pure elemental power, and their value was beyond measure. Jiang Feng had spent the past month training and preparing for this moment, and he wasn't about to let anyone stand in his way.

Without another word, Jiang Feng raised his hand. The Celestial Dagger, a weapon forged or birthed from the heavens or the unknown and imbued with his own spiritual essence, materialized in a flash of light from his body. With a swift motion, he sent it hurtling toward the multi-colored formation. The dagger struck with the force of a mountain, its impact sending a shockwave through the air.

**BOOM!!!!**

The sound echoed like thunder, reverberating across the hills and the lake. The formation shuddered, its colorful lights flickering violently as cracks began to spread across its surface. The cultivators nearby turned in alarm, their eyes widening as they realized what was happening.

Jiang Feng's eyes were icy, his expression unyielding. The battle for the flames had begun.